Nectarine tree (Summer Bright)

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a nectarine tree and more particularly to a new and distinct variety broadly characterized by a medium size, medium vigor, hardy, very productive and regular bearing teee. The fruit matures under the ecological conditions described approximately the second week in July, with first picking on July 9, 1988. The fruit is uniformly large in size, clingstone in type, very firm making excellent quality for keeping and shipping, deep red over a reddish orange background in skin color, and both acidic and very sweet in flavor. The variety was developed as the result of a second generation seedling from the selected seed parent, Red Diamond (U.S. Pat. No. P.P. 3,165), and an unnamed nectarine seedling as the selected pollen parent.

BACKGROUND OF THE VARIETY

In a continuing effort to improve the quality of shipping fruits, we,the inventors, typically hybridize a large number of nectarine, peach,plum, apricot, and cherry seedlings each year. The present inventionrelates to a new and distinct variety of nectarine tree, which has beendenominated varietally as "Summer Bright". The present variety washybridized in 1981 by us in a cultivated area of our experimentalorchard at Bradford Farms near Le Grand, Calif. in Merced County (SanJoaquin Valley). It was the result of a second generation seedling ofRed Diamond (U.S. Pat. No. P.P. 3,165) as the selected seed parent andan unnamed seedling as the selected pollen parent. Subsequent toorigination of the present variety of nectarine tree, we asexuallyreproduced it by budding and grafting, and such reproduction of plantand fruit characteristics were true to the original plant in allrespects.

The fruit produced by the present variety most nearly resembles thefruit of Summer Diamond (U.S. Pat. No. P.P. 5,654) by being a nearlyfull red colored nectarine with excellent firmness, but is distinguishedtherefrom and an improvement thereon by harvesting 5 days earlier, bybeing a clingstone instead of a freestone, and by being much sweeter inflavor.

The present variety is similar to its selected seed grandparent, RedDiamond (U.S. Pat. No. P.P. 3,165), in fruit appearance by being anearly full red colored nectarine with excellent firmness, but isdistinguished therefrom by ripening 18 days later and by being aclingstone instead of a freestone.

DRAWING

The accompanying photograph shows the characteristics of the whole fruitin skin color and form, a characteristic fruit divided near its sutureplane showing the flesh and pit cavity, a typical stone, and typicalleaves.

POMOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Referring now more specifically to the pomological characteristics ofthis new and distinct variety of nectarine tree, the following has beenobserved under the ecological conditions prevailing near Le Grand,Merced County (San Joaquin Valley), Calif., and was developed at thestate of hard ripe on July 14, 1988. All major color code designationsare by reference to the Inter-Society Color Council, National Bureau ofStandards. Common color names are also used occasionally.

TREE

Size: Medium.

Vigor: Medium.

Growth: Spreading and dense.

Form: Vase formed.

Hardiness: Hardy.

Production: Very productive.

Bearing: Regular bearer.

Trunk:

Size.--Medium.

Texture.--Medium.

Color.--Grayish yellowish brown [80. gy.yBr].

Lenticels.--Numerous. Color: Strong brown [55. s.Br]. Average Size: 1/8"to 3/8", [3.175-9.525 mm.].

Branches:

Size.--Medium.

Texture.--Medium.

Color.--1st year wood -- Topside: Dark pink [6. d.Pk] in sunlight. 1styear wood -- Underside: Brilliant yellow green [116. brill.YG]. Olderwood: Grayish brown [61. gy.Br].

Lenticels.--Numerous, very small.

Leaves:

Size.--Large. Average length: 6.0" [152.4 mm.]. Average width: 1 9/16"[39.69 mm.].

Thickness.--Medium.

Form.--Elliptical.

Apex.--Acuminate.

Base.--Acute.

Surface.--Smooth.

Color.--Dorsal surface: Moderate olive green [125. m.01G]. VentralSurface: Moderate yellow green [120. m.YG].

Margin.--Finely serrate.

Venation.--Pinnately net veined.

Petiole.--Average Length: 7/16" [11.11 mm.]. Average Thickness: 1/16"[1.588 mm.].

Glands.--Numbers: 2 to 4 per leaf. Position: Some oppositely and somealternately positioned on petiole and base of blade. Size: Large. Form:Reniform. Color: Grayish pink [8. gy.Pk].

Stipules.--Numerous. Length: 1/4" to 3/8" [6.350 mm. to 9.525 mm.].

Flower buds:

Hardiness.--Hardy.

Size.--Medium.

Length.--Medium.

Form.--Free.

Surface.--Pubescent.

Flowers:

Blooming period.--Medium, as compared with other varieties.

Size.--Small.

Color.--Light pink [4. 1.Pk].

FRUIT

Maturity when described: Hard ripe, July 14, 1988.

Date of first picking: July 9, 1988.

Date of last picking: July 24, 1988.

Size: Uniform, large.

Average diameter axially.--21/2" [63.50 mm].

Average transversely in suture plane: 23/8" [60.33 mm].

Form: Uniform, symmetrical, globose to slightly oblong.

Longitudinal section form.--Round to slightly oval.

Transverse section through diameter.--Round.

Suture: An inconspicuous shallow line extending from the base toslightly beyond the apex with a marked depression on both sides of thepistil point.

Ventral surface: Rounded along the suture with lipping on both sidestoward the apex.

Lips: Equal.

Cavity: Flaring, elongated in the suture plane, suture showing on oneside.

Base: Slightly truncate.

Apex: Depressed within the suture.

Pistil point: Negligible in length.

Stem: Medium.

Average length.--3/8" [9.525 mm.].

Average width.--3/16" [4.763 mm.].

Skin:

Thickness.--Medium.

Texture.--Tough.

Tenacity.--Tenacious to flesh.

Tendency to crack.--None observed as of yet.

Color.--Very deep red [14. v.deep R] over deep redish orange [36. deepr0] background.

Flesh:

Color.--Brilliant yellow [83. brill.Y] with deep red [13. deep R]streaking toward the stone.

Surface of the pit cavity.--Deep red [13. deep R].

Amygdalin.--Moderate.

Juice.--Abundant, rich.

Texture.--Extremely firm, fine, crisp.

Fibers.--Abundant, fine, tender.

Ripens.--Evenly.

Flavor.--Acidic with an abundance of sugar.

Aroma.--Moderate.

Eating quality.--Best.

STONE

Type: Clingstone.

Form: Oval.

Base: Straight.

Apex: Acute.

Sides: Equal.

Surface: Irregularly furrowed near the apex and pitted toward the base.

Ridges: Jagged.

Color: Light yellowish brown [76. 1.yBr].

Pit wall: 3/16" [4.763 mm.] thick.

Tendency to split: Very slight.

Kernel:

Form.--Oval.

Taste.--Sweet.

Viable.--Yes.

Average width.--7/16" [11.11 mm.].

Average length.--11/16" [17.46 mm.].

Pellicle color: Brownish pink [33. brPk].

Amygdalin: Scant.

USE

Market: Fresh and long distance shipping.

Keeping quality: Excellent.

Shipping quality: Excellent.

Resistance to insects: No unusual susceptibilities noted.

Resistance to diseases: No unusual susceptibilities noted.

Although the new variety of nectarine tree possesses the describedcharacteristics under the ecological conditions at Le Grand, Calif., inthe central part of the San Joaquin Valley, it is to be expected thatvariations in these characteristics may occur when farmed in areas withdifferent climatic conditions, different soil types, and/or varyingcultural practices.

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct mid-seasonal ripening variety ofclingstone nectarine tree, substantially as illustrated and described,which most nearly resembles the Summer Diamond (U.S. Pat. No. P.P.5,654) nectarine variety by producing fruit that is nearly full red incolor and very firm in texture, but is distinguished from and animprovement on that variety by having fruit that ripens 5 days earlier,that is clingstone instead of freestone, and that is much sweeter inflavor, a valuable asset in today's marketplace.